QPR confirm Warburton as new manager

Mark Warburton has been confirmed as the new manager of QPR.

West London Sport revealed this week that Warburton was set to take over, having also revealed prior to the sacking of Steve McClaren that the former Brentford boss was in the running.

Warburton wants to add former Arsenal coach Neil Banfield to his backroom team.

Rangers announced Warburton’s appointment on a two-year contract on Wednesday afternoon and said a further announcement on his backroom staff would follow “in due course”.

East Londoner Banfield, 57, spent 21 years on the coaching staff at Arsenal, where he was promoted to a first-team role by former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in 2012.

Since leaving Arsenal he has had a scouting role at Glasgow Rangers, where Warburton had a spell as manager.

Banfield also spent just over a year as assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side, working under QPR legend Don Givens.

QPR director of football Les Ferdinand said Warburton, who has also managed Nottingham Forest, “ticked all the boxes” for Rangers.

Rangers sacked McClaren last month, with Warburton identified as one of four leading candidates to take over along with Tim Sherwood, Gary Rowett and Michael Appleton.

Warburton was a coach and sporting director at Brentford before taking over as manager in 2013.

He led the Bees to promotion later that season and the Championship play-offs the following year.

He is credited with much of Brentford’s success in the scouting and development of players. That and his background as a youth coach made him an obvious strong contender for the QPR job given the club’s difficult financial position.